[04/29/09 - 09:56 AM]NBC Picks Up Hit Series 'The Celebrity Apprentice' for Spring 2010"[It] is the ultimate business and reality show at the top of its game and has exploded in popularity this season while also raising an impressive amount of money for charity," said the network's Paul Telegdy.

[via press release from NBC]

NBC PICKS UP HIT SERIES 'THE CELEBRITY APPRENTICE' FOR SPRING 2010

UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIF. - April 29, 2009 - NBC has picked up the hit series "The Celebrity Apprentice" for another season in Spring 2010, it was announced today by Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios

"'The Celebrity Apprentice' is the ultimate business and reality show at the top of its game and has exploded in popularity this season while also raising an impressive amount of money for charity," said Paul Telegdy, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, NBC and Universal Media Studios. "It's a valuable franchise and proven competitor and we're thrilled to have Mr. Trump and Mr. Burnett back to create another brilliant season." "

'The Apprentice' and 'Celebrity Apprentice' have been an amazing adventure for me and, obviously, a very popular show with the public," said executive producer Donald Trump. "Its Emmy nominations and great success have translated into a wonderful experience. Working with Mark Burnett has been terrific, and I am greatly honored that NBC has renewed us for yet another season, our ninth."

"The Celebrity Apprentice" is averaging a 3.5 rating, 9 share among adults 18-49 and 8.6 million viewers overall this season. The popular unscripted series is up 39 percent versus NBC's non-sports adult 18-49 average in the time period prior to "Apprentice" ("live plus same day") and is doubling its lead-in from the 8-9 p.m. hour in adults 18-49. In the 10:30 lead-in to local news, "Celebrity Apprentice" has out-rated all regular competition for the last six weeks in a row in the key news demographic of adults 25-54.

After last year's ratings blockbuster, "The Celebrity Apprentice" and host Donald Trump returned last January with a dynamic cast of celebrities. The 16 new celebrities have vied for the coveted title, using all their business savvy as they fight for causes close to their hearts. They use their fame, their rolodexes and their business acumen to win weekly tasks, while ultimately battling with each other to stay out of the boardroom and avoid hearing those dreaded words, "You're Fired!."